Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-12
is THIS THE END OF TIE FIGHT?

anti If state reputation aud j resi-
! dent OF Dallas remarked last evening that
"the hottest fight is 10 come next sum
mer IN the primaries, on the democracy
| CT prohibition; if prohibition is rejected
the pros 60 out with It." ''But," asked
( ibis writer, 'suppOse tae pres should be
ia ajority in the state Democratic con-
vention, and put in the platform strong
/ prohibition plsnE, then whsl?" "Wny,"
admitted the distinguished anti, eve
will have to get out" "Wbere VIII
you COZ" 30 On anti-prohibition
party" was the ready reply. This is
/ the sentiment which was teiegrsphed
! from the Fort Worth rally to the aHti
News, and which the Herald has thrice
commented on as bold determination or
the part OF the ants 10 make p-Ghioition
the leading question CT the next state
campaign and read out OF the Democratic
party s!l prohibition Democrats. By
some of the anti Democrats this ssHti-
ment IS boldly expressed, while others
/ are more cautious and would seem to
want to be sure that the tail csn wag the
/ cog before they put themselves on record.
| But that the effort Will be made the Her
/ aid is now confident; and we would warn
1 prohibition Democrats TO buckle on
the amor anG get ready for tde fray.
The Democratic party of Texas, or sny
southern state, will never be pledged to
g perpetuatiOn of the liquor traffic. 1t
represents the intelligence, the virtde,
the progress OF the state, aud should pu!
i,Sef on record Squarely against this blot
On an advanced civilization. The re
turns ell show clearly enough that the
one-tourth Democratic vote was sup
plemented by the solid German Re-
publican vote of $4,000 and nine
tenths Of the colored Republican vote OF
IS 900. The Republican counties, every
one, gave large anti ms critics. In few
Democratic counties of North Texas,
where leading Democratic ants with
large personal and political influence, the
anti vote from Democratic ranks was
sWelled to one third OF the Democratic
vote which, with the Republican masses
among the colored and German popula-
ton, gave small major1ties against the
amendment.
When the fight within the Democratic
party comes, and the anti above referred
to is rot the only one which has declared
that there is not room under the Demo
cratic tent for both pros and antis-that
prohibition is either Democratic or it is
lection must split the Democratic party
of Texas, the pros will not shrink from
the contest. This threat now comes
from the men and faction who have urged
as reason why the prohibition amend
ment should be defeated that
it would disrupt the Demo-
cratic party, end yet when they
claim that prohibition is defeated, in the
same breath they declare that il must be
the rock on which the party must 60 to
pieces in primaries and state convention
next year. The Herald has time Snd
time again declared its fidelity to the
Democratic state platform, which made
prohibition non-partisan question
Reagan, MaXey, Culberson, Lsnham,
Herndon, Crawford, Henry and other
: pro Democrats have steadily aid earnest
, ly stood by this platform in every utter
, snGe; the prohibition state, county aud
, precinct committees and mass-meet-
, ings ell endorsed it as non-partlsan
! question; and so it he's been regarded
by the Republicans, the colored and for
, eigu masses OF which party gave the ants
the votes which defeated prohibition. Yes
when the fight comes in 1883 the COloreG
brethren and the non English speaking
citizens will remain in their own Republic
can camp while the Democratic party will
meet in council frCm precinct to stSte
convention and settle this question among
1 themselves. The Herald has DO fear Of
the result. TwO-thirds TO -fourths
5 of the Democrats Of Texas are for this
reform movement without the COloreC
and foreign vote yesterday, prohibition
would to day have 60, coo majority. With
them out of the race next summer 8 party
fight will be satisfactory to the DTos. Lay
ca, McDuf!
r REGULATION OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC
I Galveston News (snt); The ofpo
1 nents of prohibition in this state nav,
! argued, and correctly too, that with tht
z enforcement CT the laws that are alread-
j. upon the statute books the worst evil
e connected with the liquor tra1ii; msy b.
! removed and its harmful effect upon SO
l ciety in q very great measure 0verted
e Now that the question Of prohibition ha
5 0een practically settled it remains to tr
e the efficacy of these existing laws. Tn
if overwhelming defeat of the pro
! hibitory amendment must no
h be mistaken by officials O
$ by those engaged in the liquo
s traffic for an Endorsement of that trsfIi
|
e manner in which 1t has generally beer
S conducted. Such is not the logic of III
: vote. The conservative sentiment WhiC
t resisted and OverCame the arbitrary an
?. impr&cticab!e measure proposed by tn
= extremists is not one of sympathy wit
Z the saloon business. Upon the contrary
q the conservative element that resiste
J. prohibition as an evil on the one han
0 does rot fail to recognize th
c evil that exists and the necessit
If for strict regulation AID re
!. strain of the liquor business unde
l. the statutes already provided as q rem
1t edy. That the traffic in intOXicttin
S. liquors is necessarily hurtful TO society
l. generally admitted, but that 1t cannot b
s absolutely prevented is equally true. Tn
e purpose OF all good citizens or patriots
u and especially those charged with the Ell
t forcement Of the laws, should be to aid
" reducing as far as possible the harm re
tt sultirg from it. ON ;ials should and vi
&c be held to a strict accountability in thi
ic regard. They will be expected {
l. see to it that persons engaged
le selling intoxicating liquors sha
q obey the laws under which they 81
Ot licensed and authorized to pursue the+
q occupation. Whether those laws may 0
to may not be considered oppressive or III
is wise IL CIV part is not a question no7g
: be considered. 1t is sufficient thet Ii
1t Judgment Of the laW-mabiDg powers 81
L proved and gave them sanction. VIVA
1t ever differences Of opinion may nay
lg been entertained prior to the election &
n Thursday IS to their suficlency, thel